David E. Colp (1867-1936) received the Pugsley Bronze Medal for his services in establishing a state parks system in Texas. He was bronon farm near Paris, Texas in 1867. By the early years of the twentienth century, he had become aprominent resident of San Antonio and was owner of an automobile dealership in the city. He was a leader of the Texas Good Roads Association, which was organized in 1911. At that time only about one-fourth of the 130,000 miles of public roads in Texas were graded and responsibility for maintaining and improving them rested entirely with county government. In 1923, the Texas State Legislature approved a bill vigorously promoted by Governor Pat Neff making provisions for state parks and game reserves in Texas.
In 1925, the Board had secured the deeds for 64 of these proposed small state parks. Governor Neff made their acceptance by the legislature the focus of his address at the joint session marking the opening of the 1925 legislative session. In June 1936, Texas Parade featured an article on the state's parks entitled ' Texas: A State of Beautiful Parks". Colp died of double pneumoinia in January 1936, collapsing while on a site visit to Bastrop State Park. At his death, former Governor Neff proclaimed, " Texas has lost a great citizen".